This is one of a series of articles spotlighting our storage facilities and neighborhoods.
As every nook and cranny of space gets filled and rents continue to rise in New York City, families, singles, and even businesses are seeking alternative living arrangements in order to avoid the city dweller’s worst nightmare: suburbia. Some find elbow room with a self-storage unit right in their neighborhood, while others migrate to the outer boroughs on the hunt for affordable living.
In recent years, developers have targeted The Bronx as the new “it” borough, but somehow the one-square-mile Van Nest neighborhood lying on the eastern border of The Bronx Zoo has remained in its own little time capsule—for now. The neighborhood has diversified in the past few decades with a mix of Asian-, Hispanic-, and African-American residents; however, the Italian roots of the community remain intact and visible.
Van Nest’s Conti’s Pastry Shoppe continues over 90 years of tradition with its classic Italian pastries and cakes. Walking into the shop, you’ll be overtaken by the sweet aroma of flaky dough and rich cream fillings. While enjoying a sfogliatelle or biscotti, the original architecture and details of the 1920s building will transport you back in time.
And for more savory sustenance, nearby gourmet pasta distributor Riviera Ravioli has been sharing its cavatelli, manicotti, and ravioli, among other pastas, since 1946. Maybe you’ll even run into the Bronx Citizen Award winner and owner, Joseph Giordano, who has been praised for donating his products to community members in need.
Try authentic Italian cuisine and get a sense of the roots of the neighborhood through both these spots on Morris Park Avenue, just a 10-minute walk from our store.
These businesses are fortunate enough to have slipped into Van Nest when commercial space was relatively affordable. Today, far fewer square feet costs a pretty penny, but our CubeSmart self-storage facility on White Plains Road can store your extra inventory, stacks of files, and unused equipment for a fraction of the cost per square foot of commercial space. You can even add electricity and lighting to your storage unit to make a quick pick-up or drop-off convenient after business hours.
This location provides 24-hour video recording, lobby workstations with free Wi-Fi, and even Simple Moving Labor (SML) for all your moving logistics. Our free move-in truck and driver can help you transport your stuff through the city. If you own a vehicle, use it to move and then leave it right on the premises in our outdoor parking for car storage, RV storage, and even boat storage.
While so much of The Bronx has been transformed into condominium complexes by investors, Van Nest remains quiet with mostly one- and two-family homes. When the kids finally leave the nest and it comes time to downsize, our self-storage facility offers the perfect place to store your memories, as our recent Customer has found:
“This storage facility is conveniently located, kept very clean and the great staff is extremely helpful. They make a stressful temporary situation easier to handle. I’m glad I found this facility to store my excess belongings while downsizing at home. Thank you Sept L., Joy W., Jaime S. and Gabriel S. for all you do to keep this storage facility a safe and clean environment for all your customers.” –Alba07
On the other hand, if you’re a Fordham University student faced with the stark fact that your parents have turned your childhood bedroom into a home gym, get the space you need to store your dorm or apartment items for the summer in our storage lockers. Our bilingual staff can help you with all the ‘adulting’ while mom and dad are soaking up empty-nester life:
“I had a great experience with CubeSmart– Jamie helped me to find the right unit for my storage needs and my budget and was very friendly and helpful! Santiago also helped me a great deal with driving the CubeSmart truck full of all my stuff. I couldn’t have done it without him! Very grateful for both of them!” –Emma1046
And, in classic college student fashion, grab a slice of pizza after your move at General Manager Sept Logan’s recommended spot, John and Joe’s Pizzeria, just a 10-minute walk from our store.
Take a tour of this location:
How to Get to Us
Don’t worry if you have a lot to carry—or if it’s just a lazy day. The 2 and 5 stop right at Bronx Park East at Birchall Avenue and Sagamore Street, less than a 5-minute walk from your storage unit. Or, at White Plains Road and Birchall Avenue, the 39 and 22 bus bring you just up the block from our store.
Around Us
Tame the chaos of a home full of items you don’t always need with a CubeSmart storage unit, then witness a real zoo at the Bronx Zoo, just a 15-minute drive from our store. If that isn’t close enough, our CubeSmart store on Tremont Avenue brings you five minutes closer to the wildlife, and may be even more convenient, as it is accessible by the 40, 42, or 21 bus.
If flora and fauna are more your style, 10 minutes from our store you can take a stroll through the New York Botanical Garden within Bronx Park. After a morning moving into a storage unit, spend the afternoon outdoors meandering through 250 acres of exhibits and gardens. You can even catch a show or experience a festival celebrating cultural and biological diversity. In September, Fiesta de Flores honors Hispanic Heritage Month with art, food, and wine amidst the native plants and flowers of Mexico and other Latin American countries.
Are you a proud resident of Van Nest in The Bronx? We’d love it if you shared some of your favorite things about your neighborhood in the comments section below!
We would be excited to welcome new CubeSmart teammates. Check out our available jobs in The Bronx, New York.
Sources
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/nyregion/01vannest.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/realestate/24living.html
